Brian Dawkins, Former Philadelphia Eagle and future Hall of Famer, helped Habitat celebrate 30 years of improving the lives of families in New Castle County at a breakfast celebration held at the Chase Center on the Riverfront on May 18, 2017. NBC 10’s Tim Furlong, a fan of Dawkins, and of Habitat EmCee’d the event and kept the crowd engaged throughout the morning.

More than 300 individuals gathered to celebrate this event to hear Brian Dawkins speak about why Habitat’s cause is important. BDawk placed a large focus on the children within the families Habitat serves, stating that stable housing affects the entire family unit, but most importantly it can change lives of these youth that will catapult them into a life some may have only imagined. Dawkins said, “It [a home] gives them [the children] the ability to reach things higher than even their parents thought they could reach. Having that stability, that community, and having that love is very important. Habitat breaks the generational curse – that’s a powerful thing.”

The event also featured the Habitat Homeowner Gina Jimenez, Phillip Alladin, who is the son of Habitat homeowner La’Kesha Ashe, mother of two and a current homeowner. Le’Kesha, was no stranger to facing obstacles in life such as homelessness, abuse, job changes, etc. that seemed like road blocks that would never allow her to own her own home. There were times where she struggled with her faith continuously asking God, “Why?”. Thankfully, through Le’Kesha’s perseverance, grit, and tenacity, she applied to the program and was able to complete 225 hours of sweat equity and attend the required classes to get into her Habitat home.

La’Kesha’s story is one of many of the various stories of individuals who have applied and been accepted into the Habitat homeownership program. Le’Kesha’s story gives a name and face to why Habitat’s mission is important, her story reinforces why Habitat wants to create a world where everyone has a decent place to live.